“God, can we get away from The Beatles for a moment?” Sir George Martin had had enough. The 82-year-old music icon had been fielding questions about John, Paul, George and Ringo for half an hour. This was in 2008, at a Television Critics Association PBS press conference. The public broadcaster had brought Martin before the press
PASADENA, Calif.–Michael Gambon is an acclaimed Irish actor who never seems to stop working. Recent hits include the Harry Potter films and “The King’s Speech.” His latest, for PBS’ Masterpiece, “is Churchill’s Secret,” which will premiere next fall. The TV-movie looks at WWII icon Winston Churchill’s second go-round as British prime minister, and how a
PASADENA, Calif.–“No matter how smart of well-educated you are, you can be deceived.” That’s the message delivered by James “The Amazing” Randi in The Independent Lens production “An Honest Liar.” The entertaining and surprising doc airs March 28 on PBS. At 87, Randi looks more like Jasper Beardly on The Simpsons than Harry Houdini. His
The sixth and final season of Downton Abbey began airing in North America Sunday night on PBS–which reminds me, I better get my screeners back from my neighbour Roberta. Have to admire the Brits for getting out before anybody could accuse anybody of overstaying their welcome. If this was a Fox or NBC series, as
What to get the TV DVD box set collector who has everything? This Christmas try The Great American Dream Machine. It is just out this month from S’More Entertainment, Inc. This is a trippy blast of public television from the early ’70s. It aired on PBS from 1971 to ’73, back when the American public
I’m a little late to this table, but here’s my new favourite reality show–I’ll Have What Phil’s Having. The first six episodes aired Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on PBS and can be streamed here at pbs.org. Time magazine’s Joel Stein calls it “Not only the funniest travel show on television, but also the warmest.” I’d
I can’t quite say hats off to PBS for airing Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration. (Tuesday night at 8 p.m. PT; check local PBS listings). It’s listed as a PBS Pioneers of Television presentation. Having just watched the special on the East Coast, I have to agree with many critics who already pointed out that it
Wanna have a “Good Friday”? PBS is featuring Annie Lennox in concert as a Great Performances special April 3. Her concert was taped late last January in Los Angeles. TV critics were treated to four songs from her album Nostalgia earlier that month as the Winter TCA press tour came to a close. Lennox performed with a